Bianchi: I could not avoid Maldonado

Marussia driver Jules Bianchi has stressed that he was unable to avoid making contact with Lotus's Pastor Maldonado at the start of the Malaysian Grand Prix.

Bianchi was part of a group of cars racing towards the back of the field when he made contact with Maldonado under braking for turn four on the first lap.

The French racer was slapped with a five second stop and go penalty, as well as having his racing license endorsed with two points.

But Bianchi insists that his contact with Maldonado was a consequence of a puncture.

"Unfortunately the situation with Maldonado was a consequence of what happened off the start, when [Jean-Eric] Vergne hit me from behind and punctured my left rear tyre.

"Quite simply I could not avoid Maldonado; there was nothing I could do.

"We came in to change the tyres and to fit a new front wing but when I returned to the track the car was not easy to drive and we suspected a problem with the brakes. We could not continue to drive this way and had no choice but to retire. It was disappointing to end my race after eight laps and this is not the reward the team deserves after a week where we seemed to make good progress through the sessions."